2 min read • February 24, 2022
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The Pacers have disappointed in their first season under Rick Carlisle, posting a 20-40 record in the 1st half. Much of those struggles tied to the availability of multiple starters due to various foot issues, but Indiana is set to get a few of those key players back soon.
Point guard Malcolm Brogdon will return to the court Friday against the Thunder after missing the last 15 games with lingering right achilles soreness. The 2017 Rookie of The Year has played only 51 minutes across 3 games since Dec. 15, suffering a setback in each attempted comeback.
The 29-year-old's availability will remain in flux, as the achilles injury, like all other issued in and around the foot, is avascular, or related to a lack of blood flow, and thus slow-healing and prone to hurdles, according to our ProBasketballDocs.
Center Myles Turner won't play for "at least a few weeks," according to FieldHouse Files' Scott Agness, with a stress reaction in his right foot.
Similar to the achilles injury, the stress reaction is avascular and even more fickle, as a reaction is a step below a stress fracture, which can be season-ending or career-altering for big men. Expect the Pacers to remain cautious with their 25-year-old defensive dynamo.
Scoring wing T.J. Warren knows exactly how impactful a stress fracture can be. The 28-year-old bubbleball star has not played since suffering a fractured left foot on Dec. 29, 2020 – 14 months, 128 games, and 3 COVID-19 variants ago – but is practicing and preparing for a return in the near future. He still does not have a timetable for re-joining the team, but he is nearing a comeback to the court.
Fellow T.J., T.J. McConnell, is likely out for the season after undergoing wrist surgery in December.
His backcourt mate Chris Duarte will miss his 3rd straight game with a sore right big toe he suffered 3 minutes into the Feb. 13 loss to Minnesota.
The injury kept him out of the Rising Stars challenge, and is keeping him from practicing ahead of their Friday contest against the Thunder, but the ProBasketballDocs don't anticipate this being a long-term issue and expect the 24-year-old to return soon.
Finally, reserve forward Isaiah Jackson was a full participant in practice Wednesday and looks on track to play for the first time since Feb. 11 as he has dealt with right ankle soreness.
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